Rather
a pretty church, rather a pretty village. On this
day in late spring, the church took a little
finding, even though it is right beside the
village crossroads. The trees were green and
abundant, an effective screen, but one which made
photographing the outside a little awkward.

The church
is an odd shape, appearing truncated but with a
large north transept. This is because the chancel
was demolished during the long centuries when
sacramental usage fell out of favour, which is a
pity, because otherwise we might have a church
with considerable evidence of its 16th century
life. St Andrew appears to have been extensively
refurbished right on the eve of the Reformation.
A bequest to the roofs in the late 1520s seems to
have sparked an enthusiasm for benches as well.

The 19th century restoration was, I'm
afraid, by Frederick Preedy, hence the rather severe
patina to the exterior. But the interior is better, I
think. Preedy kept the 16th century benches, which
include on their ends a burning barrel, or tun. This is
obviously intended as a rebus on the parish name - any
English person before the 19th century would have
understood the word 'Brinton' to suggest 'burnt town'. In
fact, this rebus is a pun, since the name actually means
the farmstead of Brina's people. Other bench ends feature
figures who appear to be engaged in secular activities
with tools, or perhaps farm implements.

The 19th and 20th century glass is very good
indeed, and there is much of it. I very much like the
four evangelistic symbols set in the south of the nave.
Each one has Holy Holy Holy around it in a different
language: English, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. AL Moore, who
was also busy next door at Briningham, gives us his
excellent Christ the Healer, which I found almost
impossible to photograph in the failing light -
contributions gratefully received. The upper light glass
is also good of its kind, very much in the 20th century
spiritual tradition. The east window glass by Meyer &
co depicts the Adoration of the Magi. It would be lost in
most settings, but in this simple 18th century
rectangular window in the place of the old chancel arch
it is most effective.

At the west end of the nave is an uncovered
wall text dating from the Elizabethan period, early
evidence of the building's protestant life. These things
are fairly common, but this must be one of the best
preserved. Curious to think it came less than half a
century after the roof angels which would have offended
the protestant reformers so much.